Wire connector for electrical receptacles



July 1, 1952 H. HUBBELL ET AL 2,602,104

WIRE CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLES Filed Aug. 15, 1946 if ilil Patented July 1, 1952 WIRE CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAIi RECEPTACLES Harvey Hubbell, Long Hill, and Joseph F. Healy, Westport, Conn., assignors to Harvey Hubbell, Incorporated, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application August 13, 1946, Serial No. 390,220

..6 Claims. (01. 173-259) This invention relates to a wire connector to be used in electrical receptacles and the like, and has for an object to provide a 'wire connector which is in the form of a one-piece assembly unit, which thus makes for easier assembly when the unit is wired.

It has for a further object to provide a wire connector which confines the wire atttached to it. and thus prevents the wire from grounding on surrounding objects.

It has for another object to provide a suitable and efficient wire clamping means, and yet allows the wire to be easily installed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, we have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific detains of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view of a range receptacle using our device, with a portion removed;

Fig. 2 is a view taken from the right of Fig. 1, showing the body of the receptacle in section;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the wire connector;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the device with the spring receptacle contacts removed; I

Fig. 5 is a partial section taken substantially on the line 5-5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a partial section showing another form of the nut used with the device; v

Fig. 7 is a top view of a movable clamp used with the device;

Fig. 8 is a side view of thedevice showing a wire secured in it, and with a portion broken away to show detail;

Fig. 9 is a view of a contact looking from the right of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view of the clamping means, taken from the right of Fig. 8, with a section removed to show detail;

Fig. 11 is a top view of the main body portion of the connector, and

Fig. 12 is a view showing the preferred way of preparing a solid wire for securing in this connector.

For illustrative purposes we have shown our device in use with a receptacle H) which is commonly used with the installation of electric ranges. However, it is to be understood that our device is not limited for use with this type of receptacle but may be used wherever a wire connector of this type is desirable. The range reor cover Ila provided in its front wall IS with suitable elongated openings or slots I! to receive the blade contacts of a male plug (not shown). The contacts of the male plug (not shown) when inserted in the elongated holes or slots H are receivedby the spring contacts l8 which comprise a substantially U-shaped member the arms of which are bent over as at I9 and turned downwardly to provide a suitable gripping means for the blade contacts (not shown). The spring contacts l8 are secured to an extending lug 20 on body 2| of the wire connector [2 by a suitable means, such as a screw 2'2 through the contact I8 intoa tapped hole 23 in the lug 20, or it could be riveted to it.

The wire connector I2 comprises a substantially U-shaped body member 2| comprising a cross member 24 forming a base or binding plate, and arms 25 and 25. Between the arms 25 and 26 is a movable clamp 21 which comprises a base 21a provided with a gripping surface 28011 its under side andarms 29 bent backwardly from its opposite ends so that the recessed portions 3|] at the ends of the arms will substantially grip a reduced extension 3| at the end of the'screw 32. The reduced extension 3| is provided with a shoulder 33 at the end of the screw so that the clamp 21 is held to the screw 32 at its end. A nut 34 is threaded on the screw 32 and the threads are so made that'a tight or close fit exists between the nut 34 and the screw 32 which thus permits the nut to turn with the screw unless the nut is held by some means. The nut 34 comprises substantially round side portions 35 (Fig. 4) which permit its entry into rounded concave recesses 36 in thetop of the arms 25 and 25, formed by curving the intermediate portions of the tops of the arms above the slots 38 and 39 outwardly, as shown at 36a. Lugs 31 extend from opposite sides of the nut 34, holding it in a longitudinal position between the arms 25 and 26 of the body so it can be lowered with the screw 32 until the nut 34 is in a position between the slot 38 in the arm 26 and the slot 39 in the arm 25. While inserting the nut it is guided by the rounded side portions '35 in the concave recesses '36, and the wire lead 13.

' 3 walls 13 of the slots 38 and 39, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, which bottom walls are straight and lie under the concave recesses 3t, as shown in these figures. Now by turning the screw 32 to the right, its rather tight fit in the nut 34 will swing this nut around with the screw and the lugs 31 will swing into the slots 38, 39 and be held therein by the lugs striking against the edges 44 of the slots which form stops for these lugs. These slots are placed off center in opposite directions, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 8, to permit the lugs 3'! to move into them from one end and be stopped by the other end 44 with the lugs 31 edge of the slot extends across the recess to form a stop wall, a clamping screw, a nut threaded on the screw between the side members and of a width to pass down said recesses to a position to rest on said lower edges of the slots to limit downwardmovementof the nut, lugs on the nut arranged to'swinginto the ,slots underflthe' upper edges of said slots on turning movement of the nut while it is in said position, and a clamp on the screw below the nut to clamp a lead wire against the bottom member by turning of the screw in the nut while it is held by the lugs in the slots.

the slot and with the nut extending transversely 7 between the body arms 25 and 26, as shown in Figs. 3, 8 and 10. Then, as the screw is further turned the nut 3 will be held stationary by the walls or stops M, and its threaded engagement with the screw will force the screw and with it) the movable clamp 2! downwardly to grip the The upper surface of cross member 24 is serrated as at All, Fig. 1 as is the bottom 28 of the movable clamp 2'! to provide a better grip against the wire lead 13. The upper surfaces of the lugs 37 of the nut 34 are also serrated, as at M, Figs. 4 and 1 0, to provide a, gripping means against the'upper edge 46 of the slots 38 and 39, for it is clear that when the screw is turned for creating downward pressure on the movable clamp 21a, corresponding upward presthe screw and the nut 34 will turn this nut in the opposite direction to swing its lugs 31 from the slots 38 and 39 to the position of Fig. 4, and the screw and nut may then .be liften and removed from between the arms 25 and 26.

Fig. 6 shows another means for overcoming any.

tendency of the arms to spread. This means comprises having the lugs 37 on the nut 34 turned upwardly, as at 42, Fig. 6, and of a length to extend outwardly a short distance beyond the curved portions 3'5a, so that when there is upward pressure against the nut 34 the turned-up portion 52 will retain the arms 25 and 26 between them and prevent these arms 25 and 26 from spreading.

it can be seen that our device provides a suitable clamping means which may be used to clamp any wire of a considerable range of sizes. If stranded wire (not shown) is used the several strand-s provide a suitable gripping surface and thus are gripped securely. If a single strand or solid wire is used, it is preferable, although not necessary, to double it back as shown at 45, Fig. 12, to form a loop so that the clamp will have more gripping surface and the clamp will also be held level with no tendency to tip laterally.

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, we claim:

'1. A wire connector of the character described comprising spaced side members and a connecting bottom member, said side members being each provided with a transverse slot below its upper end spaced above the connecting bottom from its upper end to said slot so that the lower 2,. A wireconnector of the character described comprising spaced side members and a connecting in'ner membensaid side members being each providedwith aninwardly facing shoulder spaced inwardly of its outer end and a recess on its inner surface extending from said end to said shoulder, each side member being also provided with a second-shoulder spaced inwardly of the first shoulder and extending across the recess to form a stop wall, a binding screw located between the side members, anut threaded on the screw and of a size to in one position pass inwardly in said 3. A wi-reconnector of the character described comp-rising spaced side members and an inner connecting member, each side member being provided with spaced oppositely facing shoulders located inwardly of its outer end and a recess on its inner side leading to the outer shoulder so that the inner shoulder extends across the inner end of the recess to form a stop Wall, a binding screw between the side members, a nut threaded on the screw of a size and shape so that in one position it may pass inwardly through the recesses to the stop walls and its inward movement limited thereby, said nut being provided with lugs so arranged thaton turning thenut while in said position they will move'to a position to engage under the outer shoulders, and a clamp on the screw to clamp a lead wire against the inner member by turning movement of the screw in the nut while the nut is held in position by the lugs and cooperating shoulders.

4. A wire connector of the character described comprising-spaced side members and a connecting member between them, a binding screw, a nut threaded on the screw and of a size to be inserted between the side members, said side members being each provided with a transverse slot spaced inwardly from its outer end and also provided witha concave recess in its inner wall leading from said outer end to the slot, the inner wall of the slot being in alignment with the inner end of the recess to form a stop shoulder, a binding screw,-said nut on the screw being provided with curved side edges arranged to pass through said recesses to the slots and engage the stop shoulders tolimit. its inward movement, lugs on the nut between the curved sides arranged to be shifted into the slots from this position by turning of the nut while the nut is in position against the stop shoulders to cause said lugs to engage under the outer edges of the slots to retain the hut between the side members, and a clamp on the screw to clamp a lead wire against the connecting member by turning movement of the screw in the nut while the nut is retained by said lugs and outer edges of the slots.

5. A wire connector according to claim 4 in which the slots in the side members are offset laterally in opposite directions to permit the lugs to pass into the slots when the nut is turned in one direction and the forward end of each slot forms a stop for engagement by the respective lugs to limit said turning movement.

6. A wire connector of the character described comprising spaced side members and a connecting member between them, said. side members being each provided with a transverse slot spaced inwardly from its outer end and also provided with a recess on its inner surface extending from its outer end to said slot, the inner edge of the slot being in alignment with and lying across the inner'end of the recess to form a stop wall, a. clamping screw, a nut threaded on said screw between the side members of a width to pass inwardly in said recesses to the slots and rest on the inner stop walls thereof, lugs on the nut arranged to shift on turning movement of the nut while in said position on the stop walls and move into the slots to a position under the outer edges of the'slots to cooperate therewith to retain the nut between the'members, gripping means on said lugs to grip the side members to prevent their spreading laterally, and a clamp on the screw to clamp a lead wire against the connecting member by turning movement of the screw in the nut while the nut isretained by said lugs and outer edges of the slots.

HARVEY HUBBELL. JOSEPH F. HEALY.

REFERENCES CITED 5 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date Re.'2 0,780 Hagist July 5, 1938 1,799,706 Sangals Apr. '7, 1931 1,959,310 Tronolone May 15, 1934 2,179,753 Mebold Nov. 13, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 95,105 Austria July 15, 1923 

